I just found an interesting post through metafandom about The Different Types of Critiquers. Since I've beta'd for a number of people on my f-list, and will probably continue to do so for some of you, I thought it might be helpful to ask what type of critiquer you've found me to be in the past, was it helpful, and/or what type of feedback you'd prefer from me in the future. If you're not comfortable responding in comments, feel free to PM me. I'm all about trying to be more constructive and improving my editing skills, so any feedback is welcome!

This is why I love Rachel Maddow. She practically loses it on camera and breaks down into a fit of giggles over this "non-consensual conservative activist teabagging".

Ganked from metafandom.

I don't have much to add in the way of insightful reflection, but I wanted to share these posts.

The first: Whatever you're doing, you're probably doing it wrong. by matociquala

Excerpt: "Writing The Other without being a dick. ...If you can question your own cultural assumptions about what people ought to be like, and also the stereotypes you've probably assimilated without knowing it, you can hopefully write people who are not just like you."

And a response: I Didn't Dream of Dragons by deepad

Excerpt: "What I resent is the implication of accessibility. That it is as easy to understand people of different ethnicities and cultures as it is to understand the diverse experiences within the identities you share with people."

This is the second part of my secret santa gift for thanatopsis76, as part of the gift exchange at dvlwears_prada. Hope you enjoy!


Title: Elevator Confessions
Author: Mercury

Fandom: The Devil Wears Prada
Pairing: Miranda/Andy
Rating: PG-13

Summary: Allowing Andrea to ride in the elevator with her on Christmas Eve turned into more than Miranda had bargained for.

Author's Note 1: A big thanks to my invaluable beta, skeeter451, and also to hawkbehere for her help in hunting down a rather elusive quote.

( “Fix this,” Miranda seethed, in her deadliest tone. )

Happy Holidays everyone! Here's the first part of my secret santa gift for thanatopsis76, as part of the gift exchange at dvlwears_prada.

This bit is in response to the request: "I like drawings, preferably naughty." Since I can't actually draw, I hope you'll accept these icons and wallpapers, some of which are at least somewhat naughty.



( More Secret Santa graphics under the cut... )

First things first: OBAMA! WHOOOOHOOOOO!

*ahem*

This is a Big Fucking Deal.

That being said, it feels a little bittersweet. The results are showing that Florida has voted 62% in favour of a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage. Arizona has done the same with Proposition 102, with 56% in favour of banning gay marriage. Arkansas has voted to ban gay couples from adopting children. And California's Prop 8 isn't looking good, with 54% in favour so far, although the results are still rolling in.

As a Canadian, I have the right to get married if I want to. And yet this still feels like a personal attack, yet another attempt to put us in our place and reaffirm our status as separate and unequal. All of us.

But holy crap I got chills during Obama's address.

"A new dawn of American leadership is at hand."

Title: The Most Outrageously Fashionable Halloween Extravaganza Andrea Sachs Has Ever Experienced
Author: Mercury

Fandom: The Devil Wears Prada
Pairing: Miranda/Andy
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Halloween at Runway is not what Andy expects. Total crack!fic.

Author’s Note: This is in response to chilly_flame’s Halloween challenge. It’s also sort of a challenge in and of itself (you’ll see when you get to the end). Enjoy!
Author’s Note 2: A big thanks to skeeter451 for the beta and the title idea. You're the best, Susan!

( On to the Halloween Extravaganza... )

Three thoughts on the presidential debate last night:

1) Obama is pure class.

Although I almost wished he'd called McCain on his BS a little more. But at least he took the high road, suggesting that they actually discuss the issues rather than how much they're hurting each other's feelings with the less-than-respectful campaigning. Aaand McCain just ignored it and went for the low blows. Next to Obama, who was a paragon of politeness, McCain just came across as blustering and scrappy, constantly interrupting Obama and rolling his eyes at what he was saying.

2) Say it after me, McCain: "Down's Syndrome"

My brother has Down's, and not that that makes me an expert or anything, but it does mean that I'm possibly a little more attuned to this issue than others might be. So of course I noticed right away when McCain said autism rather than Down's. The interesting thing about this is that, at first, I actually gave McCain the benefit of the doubt (weird, right?), because it seemed as though he was just giving an example of special needs. Then he said it at least twice more in reference to Palin's own "expertise" in this area, and I realized that he's just a tool.

3) McCain needs to get over Clinton.

Did anyone else notice how many times McCain invoked Senator Clinton during the debate? Is he seriously still trying to woo the Clinton supporters? I'm not sure if he's noticed that, in order to do that, he should probably have a platform that isn't anti-woman. Just a thought.

And as parting remarks, an image that pretty much sums it all up: ( The candidates looking, er, presidential )

ETA 2: Here's a fairly entertaining commentary on the debate. My favourite line? "[McCain]'s staring at Obama in a vaguely unsettling way, blinking rapidly, and, unless I'm mistaken, spelling out 'The Acorn doesn't fall far from the terrorist' in Morse code."

And yes, I'm aware of the irony that the day after the Canadian election, I'm more interested in posting about the US debate. I'm in denial, okay?

As I mentioned in a previous post, I've been playing around with Photoshop the last few days, trying to learn different techniques. Here's a sample of the results so far:



If you want any of them, please credit and all that jazz.

( And the rest... )

Tonight I decided I would try to teach myself how to use Photoshop. Until now, I've had this really weird way of (very poorly) manipulating images, that involved cropping and adding text in Word (seriously), the print screen button, and then pasting into Paint. My ghetto method was right up there with creative ways to use duct tape.

What I mostly wish I could do is just sit and watch some of those awesome graphic designers out there as they do their thing, and learn by watching all the little tricks they use. (grumpybear1031 comes to mind; see the purdy icon she made me as exhibit A). So far, trolling for online tutorials and reading the Photoshop online help has just been frustrating.

Anyway, tonight I learned how to take something from one image and place it on top of another, without any weird halos. Here's my first attempt: ( Anne Hathaway hotness eclipsing the NY skyline )